UAS University of Applied Sciences Giessen-Friedberg VD 04/05 1

BME-degrees in Germany: from Diploma to Bachelor/Master,

from Governmental Control to Accreditation

Vera Dammann (Dipl.-Ing.)

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Tradition of BME Education• 1953 start of BME at Technical University

Ilmenau (diploma degree course)

• 1970 start of BME at Universities of Appl. Sci. in Hamburg and Giessen (diploma degree course)

• today degree courses with BME as major:

• 3 at (technical) Universities

• 17 at Universities of Appl. Sci.

• plus 15 other engineering courses with BME as minor

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Typical Structure of Diploma Course

• 3 to 6 months of workshop practical as additional prerequisite

• courses/modules at university:6 (UAS) or 8 (U) semesters

• 0, 1, or 2 practical internship semester

• 1 semester for diploma project and thesis

in total: 4 years at UAS and 4.5 to 5 years at U

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German Authorities for Educational Affairs

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

each state, „Land“:* Ministry of Education: primary and secondary education

* Ministry of Science and Culture: higher, tertiary education universities

standing conference of ministers for culture, KMK

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Implementation of a Diploma Course(procedure of the past)

• planning of curriculum and ressources by the department, preparation of examination rules

• decision by department

• decision by university senate

• approval by ministry and publication of examination rules in statal journal of laws

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New Structures and Proceduresalong with Bologna process

• first resolution of KMK in 1999, specified in 2000

• actual, in 2003 revised resolution of KMK

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KMK-resolution: main topics (1)In general:

• no new diploma courses

• in 2010: bachelor and master courses only

• doctorate entrance requirement: • master degree or

• bachelor degree plus dedicated pre-courses

• all degree courses need accreditation

• diploma supplement in addition to degree certificate and transcript of records

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KMK-resolution: main topics (2)

In detail:

• duration: bachelor: 3 to 4, master: 1 to 2 years

• no „honours“

• modularized

• application of ECTS, workload 30 hours/credit

• accreditation instead of approval by ministry

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KMK-resolution: main topics (3)

• differentiation of master courses:

• orientation to research or application

• consequent (bachelor + master = 5 years)

• non-consequent

• professional (after professional experience)

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KMK-resolution: main topics (3)

• no differentation between

# research and application orientation at bachelor level

# research and application orientation in terminology of degree

# types of universities in terminology of degree

# durations of courses in degree

# bachelor (U) and bachelor (UAS) conc. to entry to master courses

# master (U) and master (UAS) conc. to entry to doctorate

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Procedure for Implementation of a New Course (1)

• planning of curriculum and ressources by the department, preparation of examination rules

• decision by department

• decision by university senate if it complies with the university‘s profile

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Procedure for Implementation of a New Course (2)

• discussion of university president with ministry:• matching to the educational profile of the „Land“

• budget • provisional approval of course by ministry

• accreditation by accreditation agency

• enrollment of first students

• re-accreditation after 5 years

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Accreditation SystemConference of the Ministries of Education (KMK)

Accreditation council (Akkreditierungsrat)

Accreditation agencies (actually 6)

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Criteria for Course Accreditation:

appropriate

• entry requirement

• objectives, learning outcome

• procedures

• evaluations

• quality management and assurance

• contents: criteria given by scientific and professional societies

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Criteria (ECTS) Given by the German Societies

ECTS points for the bachelor:

duration 7 or 8 sem.

• mathematics 20 30• physics 20 20• engineering 30 50• anatomy, physiology 10 10• non-technical 20 20• BME core 25 25• BME specialization 25 25• practical internship 15 15• thesis 15 15• flexible budget 30 30

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Criteria (ECTS) Given by the German Societies

consecutive master: duration 3 or 2

sem.

• engineering 20 10• BME specialization 10 10• thesis 30 30• flexible budget 30 10

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Criteria (ECTS) Given by the German Societies

non-consecutive master:

duration 4 semesters

• engineering 15 ECTS• anatomy, physiology 10• BME core 25• BME specialization 30• thesis 30• flexible budget 10

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Non-solved Questions, Actual Discussions

• duration of bachelor course

• percentage of bachelors allowed to enter master courses

• study fees

• and quite a lot of procedural problems

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Links

• Standing conference of ministries of education:www.kmk.org „Structural guidelines for Accr. of Bachelor and Master courses...“:www.kmk.org/doc/publ/LaendergemStrukturvorgaben_englisch.pdf

• official survey on accreditation agencies and accredited degree courses: www.akkreditierungsrat.de

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Links (2)

• surveys on BME degree courses:

• www.fbmt.de -> Informationen -> Studium

• www.dgbmt.de -> Studium und Beruf -> Studienmöglichkeiten

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Thank you very much for your attention